Study: Aroma and Bright Light Therapies Improve Quality of Life for Alzheimer Patients

Aroma and bright light therapies can improve the quality of life of people with Alzheimer's disease, according to two separate studies reported Aug. 19 at the 11th Congress of the International Psychogeriatric Association.

By studying 48 nursing home patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia, researchers from Manchester Royal Infirmary in the United Kingdom found that these therapies helped reduce such symptoms as agitation and sleep disturbances.

Those treated with light therapy sat in front of a brightly-lit box for two hours each morning for two weeks. Afterwards, they slept longer and more deeply than those who sat in front of dim light for the same period of time.

The benefits of bright light were significantly greater in the winter months when the days are shorter and people are exposed to less sunlight, according to study co-author E. Jane Byrne.

Study co-author Dr. Harry Allen, a psychiatrist at the infirmary, said the light boxes used in the study are widely available and cost about $150. For people who cannot afford the boxes, he recommends daily outside activities for patients during the brightest parts of the day and daily indoor activities near windows that receive the most light.

"Most of us have had the experience of feeling our mood improve when we are exposed to bright sunlight," Allen said. "Too often we shut people with dementia up in dark rooms with little opportunity to see the sun or other bright light, which can make their symptoms worse."

Another group of researchers found that aromatherapy significantly improved agitation in people with severe dementia in a study of 72 nursing home residents who were either exposed to lemon balm or a placebo in the form of odorless sunflower oil.

After four weeks of treatment, 35 percent of patients in the lemon balm group showed an overall improvement in agitation, compared to 11 percent in the placebo group.

"Patients exposed to lemon balm also showed significant improvements in the quality of life, including a decrease in social withdrawal and an increase in constructive activities," said Clive Ballard, a professor at the University of Newcastle in the United Kingdom.

Other sources: International Psychogeriatric Association